Boot or shoe case



(No Model.)

' S. F. FRAZIER.

BOOT OR SHOE CASE.

No. 447,150. v Patented Feb. 24, 1891.

fig. J

%z Fj46% z WITNESSES: IIVVE/VTOH: 62 A -Z'FraZ ier W AUOH/VEYS NITED STATES SIMON F. FRAZIERJOF QUENEMO, KANSAS.

BOOT OR SHOE CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,150, dated February 24, 1891.

Application filed July 24, 1890. Serial No. 359,841. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SIMON F. FRAZIER, of Quenemo, in the county of Osage and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Boot or Shoe Cases, of which the following is a specification.

Boots and shoes are usually stored and shipped in boxes holding one dozen pairs. Boots are shipped in oblong boxes tapering from one end to the other to accommodate the different sizes, and to get the full benefit of the peculiar shape of the boot in nesting the boxes are usually unprovided with partitions, as partitions would occupy one-third of the room, the bottom of the boot being broadest across the ball and narrowest across the instep, so that by reversing each pair the ball of one pair nests in the instep of the other, allowing them to lap over, as it were. This could not be done with a partition.

7 These shipping-boxes are generally used by dealers to display goods in and to sell from, and without some device to prevent them from falling over after one or more pairs have been removed, and becoming disarranged and exposed to dust and light, they are Very unsatisfactory.

To furnish a neater and better case, one

that will accommodate any sizes of boots and will hold the boots in place against falling over after one or more pairs have been removed without increasing the size of the box or interfering with their nesting, is the object of my invention.

- Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view of the lower half of a case constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of'a complete case with the side removed. Fig. 3 shows the manner of packing the pairs of boots in the case. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the partition-rack, and Figs. 5 and 6 are details of the blocks forholding the ends of the partition-raclc The case A is rectangular in form, (nearly square,) divided into two compartments by an adjustable rack P, either of one or more slats or boards, running in approximately horizontal position through the case, but made adjustable to any angle, to be governed by the variety of sizes desired to be shipped in the case. The width of the case is sufficient to hold six pairs sideby side, the height sufficient to hold two rows of any desired sizes with partition-rack between, and the depth from front to rearsufficient to accommodate any length of leg in boots or height in shoes. Each compartment is vprovided with five selfadjusting guides g, hung to the top by screw 3 in the center, which acts as a pivot and allows the guide free side motion at each end. The guides may vary to some extent in shape and size, the most desirable shape being a three-sided strip with two sides concaved to fit the circular shape of the leg and heel of boot. The guides are hung in the center, so that when the ends of two approach each other the opposite ends separate.

The following are some of the advantages of the adjustable or self-adj ustin g guides, and also of the partition-rack: Boots are usually shipped in assorted sizes, mens sizes running from No.6 to No.12, these two numbers being the extreme sizes. There is one-third of an inch difference in length between sizes. It is obvious that if the box is not tapering to accommodate the different sizes some other means must be resorted to, This is the object of making the partition-rack adjustable. Should there be but two sizes shipped in the case, the rack could run horizontally across in position parallel to the top and bottom.

To fully illustrate the uses and .especial advantages of the adjustable rack, let us suppose thecases are all made at the factory of uniform size to hold two rows of number nines, as this is an average of the sizes of mens wear. Each side of the case is fitted with a block b, with a concave to receive the partition-rack. By raising or lowering the ends of partition-rack in the concave the rack is adjusted to any desired inclination, or a block W, withthree angles or grooves of different depths, with deepest groove above on one side and below on the other, may be used. Let us place the partition-rack squarely across or at right angles, with one end in top or deepest groove on one side and in bottom and deepest groove on the other side. This will divide the casein two equal compartments, and this will accommodate boots of one size only, which we will \suppose to be number nines. By raising one end and lowering the other (either in grooved or concaved block) twomoresizescanbeplaced in-say eight and ten,being equal to nine and nine. By still raising and lowering we accommodate eleven and seven, and so on to twelve and six, three changes or grooves only being necessary to accommodate all sizes in mens wear. The guides, ten in number, placed one between each pair in top of each compartment, hold each pair in position while in transit IQ and guide the boot in proper position while being slid into and out of the case, and prevent the boots from rubbing and chafing each other and keep the legs in natural shape. The guides being self-adjusting, allow them i 5 to separate at one end and approach each other at the other. This is done to fit the shape of the boot while nested together, the top of leg being wider than the lower or heel portion,as shownin Fig. 1. Suppose we start the toe or broadest end of a pair in between two guides. The guides, being on pivots in the center. will separate at front and allow the boots to enter freely. As the boots are guided. farther in and reach the center pivot the guides become parallel. As the boots are still guided in the rear of the center the guides separate and the front ends approach each other at the front or heel of the boots and clamp the boot full length, holding it in nat- 0 ural position and leaving the guides at an angle to each other. The next pair is reversed by putting heel or narrow end in first. As they enter and pass the center the guides separate at front to accommodate the top of 3 5 leg or broadest end and approach each other at rear, thus clamping this pair full length,

and so on each pair has a natural bearing full length, holding each pair in position. I may provide the bottom of each compartment with five guides, as above, if desired. These guides answer the full purposes of a partition when used as a display-case, and when one or more pairs shall have been removed the remaining ones keep their true and natural positions, the same if provided with partitions between each pair. The guides are more desirable than a partition, being cheaper, lighter, and save the space that a partition would occupy. The guides allow the boots to bear against each other. This keeps the boots moist and pliable, whereas if separated by a partition they would dry out and become harsh and stiff from the absorption of the oil by the wood.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new is 1. A boot or shoe case having a series of guides or strips centrally pivoted to the side of the case, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of the casing A, the centrally-pivoted guide-strips g, the grooved or notched pieces I1 attached to the sides of the case, and the removable partition 1, adapted to be ad justably held in the notched side pieces, and provided, also, with centrallypivoted guide-strips g, substantially as shown and described.

SIMON F. FRAZIER.

, \Vitnesses:

U. W. Caoss, JOHN D. SHAVER. 

